Oil question: type & change interval

[nytehawk]

I'm sure this question has been asked at least a few times in these forums, but a quick search didn't quite yield the answers I'm looking for, so...

I took delivery of my 2007 S2K one week ago today, and have been dutifully minding the 600 mile 5500 rpm break-in period. With a little over 300 miles on the car right now, I have two questions related to engine oil selection and change intervals:

1) I plan to switch to synthetic oil at some point, if for nothing other than peace of mind and the occasional cold weather spell (occasionally down to +15°F in the high desert here in Southern CA). At what mileage should I switch to synthetic, and are there any brand recommendations?

2) Should I have the oil changed at the end of the 600 mile break-in period? I seem to recall the owner's manual stating that there is no need to change the oil early, and just to follow the Maintenance Minder's oil life recommendation, but...

Thanks in advance!

[batguano]

I come from the old school that says you change every 3000 miles.
The new thinking gives a much longer period between changes. I run Mobil 1 10W30 year round in my 05. My changes vary from 3000 to 4000 miles.
There are several threads that give detailed info on the initial break in period.
I know you are loving your S. It is one fine machine.

[centralcoastbuc]

No synthetic until after 10K. Let the rings fully break in first. Use Dino until then.

[repiv]

First, go with what the owner's manual says. It clearly outlines the details concerning oil changes. Your '07 may even say something about synthetic. If it does, do what it says.
There is a memo with Honda dealers pertaining to the AP1 cars (2.0L engines). Those engines were notorious for using significant amounts of oil till the rings seated into the Fiber Re-inforced Metal liners. It sometimes took as much as 10,000 miles before oil consumption tapered off. Some S2000's never stopped using oil their whole lives. Honda issued a memo saying to NOT switch to synthetic till at least 7500 miles.
However, that memo was initiated for the AP1. Since the AP2 came out, Honda never issued a new memo nor did they recind the old one. The AP2 engine (2.2L) never really had a widspread problem with oil consumption. Honda changed something in the rings or the liners or both. It is my belief that holding off changine to synthetic no longer applies. I've heard of quite a few owners switching to synthetic at the first oil change with absolutely no ill effects. The choice is yours, but do read your owner's manual.
Having said that, know that +15*F is NOT really considered cold for a dino 10W30. There are many examples of S2000s that run this oil down to temps colder than -10*F all their lives and continue to do so into very high mileage. Granted, a full synthetic will flow much better in the extreme cold.
Sometimes, we obsessed far too greatly over oils and we have our minds focussed on what happened with the AP1. We forget that the AP2 is a different breed of cat.

[Ulrich]

You. Do. Not. Need. To. Change. Your. Oil. Every. 3000. Miles.

That may have been necessary 50 years ago, but since then technology has improved and these days it's simply the best marketing brainwashing job ever. Consider that nobody follows that regimen outside North America, and surely you don't believe that the rest of the world is wrong, right?. I'm using conventional oil myself and change it every 5,000 miles (and quite frankly, I think that is early). If you change to synthetic, there really is no reason to change it any earlier than every 10,000 miles.

[nytehawk]

Thank you all for your responses. Upon re-reading the "Break-in Period" section in my owner's manual, I see it says "Do not change the oil until the scheduled maintenance time." Therefore, I'll wait until the Oil Minder instructs me to make my first oil change.

As far as synthetic goes, I'll consider switching to synthetic once I reach 7,500 - 10k miles.

Thanks again

[countnkick]

You. Do. Not. Need. To. Change. Your. Oil. Every. 3000. Miles.

That may have been necessary 50 years ago, but since then technology has improved and these days it's simply the best marketing brainwashing job ever.

It's rather like the marketing effort that doubled the sales for shampoo when they added the text "rinse and repeat" to the use instructions.

Enjoy your new ride ... mine is a year and a half old, and I can honestly say that I still have as much fun in it (if not more) as the day I drove it off the lot. :thumbup:

[chuhsi]

i change every 7,500. 3k interval is overrated thanks to some marketing geniuses